Method of operating firearms



l. N. LEWIS.

METHOD 0F OPERATING FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1918.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. N. LEWIS.

METHOD 0F OPERATING FIREARMS.

2. z w wz. .ma 1n mL. 3, uN .LA n c Ocvm 3m dm MJ .m2 m P m. w mw Nw J QN y@ w w w W m .WS -x m ww A Patented -Oct. 3, 1922.

unire Isaac N: LEWIS; onr/ioNTcLern, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD' 0F OPERATING FREARIVIS.

Application: med November 23, 1551s. serial No. 263,823.

Firearms, of which' the following is a speci-l fication.l a l, t l

This, invention relates to` firearms, and particularly to automatic or semi-automatic firearms in which the gases of discharge resulting fromthe firing,- of a powder charge are employed for the purpose of causing` operation ofthe actuating mechanism of the firearm. a e

The primary object' of the presentinvention is to` provide in an automatic or semiautomatic firearm, a novel method of utilizing the gases of discharge to effect an automatic or semi-automatic operation of the said actuating` mechanism. @ther objects of the invention are to provideffor the employment of the gases of discharge in a novelmanner to effect an air cooling `ofthe `loarrel, and if desired, of the actuatingr mech "msm ofI the firearm, and to `provide for the-utilization of said gasesfor the puri pose of, reducing or neutralizing the recoil of the firearm following the explosion of the powder charge.

The invention primarily consists in utilizingl the gases of discharge resuitingfrom the tiring of a 'powder charge in the firearm to produce a shock or very rapid pressure impulsa-Which is transmitted toI the actuating` mechanism of the firearm to cause operation thereof.`

The production of the said shock or rapid pressure impulse may be effected by checking or retardinp; the movement of the gases of .discharge WhichfioW from the muzzle end l of the gun barrel following the discharge of the bullet therefrom. The forward movementof the gases is extremely rapid and by the arrangement in the path of the gases, 0f means for momentarily checking or retarding such movement thereof, a sudden pressure impulse' or shock is produced When the gases come into Contact With said means',` Which impulse` or shock may be ytransmitted backwardly to the actuatingmechanism lof the firearm and i's ofsuihcient energy toA causeA operation of theV same. Aly ternatwely thev shock' or pressiuel impulse may be produced by checking or retarding the free expansion of the discharge gases,

as Will he more full7 referred to hereinafter.

An important distinction must he drawn atk the outset between the present method of automatic or `semi-automatic operation of a firearm by shocks or pressure impulses, and the method of automatic operation involving the direct pressure of the heated .gases of discharge upon parts connected ivith the actuating mechanism of the tirarmi1 In the improved method the hot gases ofldischarge do not necessarily come into direct contact With the actuating mechanism or parts connected thereto to transmit the shocks or impulses, as such shocks or impulses may he, and preferably are transmitted to said mechanism, or said parts, through the medium` 0f an intervening column of air. Thus said mechanism. or said parts, do VnotV becomeA highly heated by the gases andV do not become fouled hy deposits therefrom, enabling the firearm to he operated for more extended periods Without cleaning,l and preventing jamming or ineiicient operation duc to said fouling deposit-s. Furthermore, as the shock or impulse is produced and transmitted to the actuating mechanism practically instantaneously with the `discharge of the bullet from the barrel, the speed ofoperation is increased when firing entirely automatically, and a greater number of bullets` may he discharged in any given interval.

\Thelinvention also `consists in utilizing the gases of discharge to produceashock or Very rapid pressure impulse, and utilizing said shock' or pressure impulse to effect a circulation of cooling` air over or around the barrel, and if desired, over the actuatingr mechanism of the gun.

rllhe invention further consists in utilizing the gases of discharge to produce a shock or Very rapid pressure impulse, of such a nature as to reduceor neutralize the recoil of the iearm due to the explosion of the powder charge.

` Other features of the invention Will he more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, for the purpose of illustration only, and Without any Vintention of limiting the invention to any particular construction or type of firearm, is shown a'machine or rapid fire gun i adapted to be operated automatically or operating parts inthe 'at the instant ofi'iring; 1' Y firearm.

tween the gun barrel anda casing` surround- `the latter along its entire length and semi-automatically in accordance with th improved method of operation-` ln these drawings jf l f 1 Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the bodyor receiver ofthe gun andwparts carried by or working within the saine, the

operating parts being' shown in subst-antially"v the rearinost positions to which they vare ir'ioved by the shock-operated means;

Figure 2 isja similar view but showingA the Figure 3 isja longitudinal sectional view one form of means forprodi'i'cing the shocks 'or rapid pressure impulses,'and `means lfor tiaiisiiiitting the yshocks or impulses Yto the comprise a chamber and a piston member `movable within the said chamber, themovevkn ieit of the piston member being transii ed to the actuating` mechanism ofthe vm i n .the said chamber is formed beexteiiding'forwards iii front of theinuzzle enf thereof.- At its forward end the wall of thecasingn Yis turned :inwards 'forming an" inwardly projecting iiange having a central aperture or mouth' of sliohtly greater'diammuraleend of the gun? barreland 'during the smally fractionvof a second. the bullet ltaires `to pass through the aperture' inthe end of the casing, the discharge gases e'X-' pand within lthe chamber transmitting a wave of high piessure through the air with- Vin the chamber, thereby driving the piston member backwards and operating theA ac* tuating' mechanism of the gun. l/Vhe'n the rear end of the bullet has left the mouth ofv the casirrf the confined gases in the chamber and inside the gun barrel can issue freely through the mouth ofthe casing. The'v gasesl stillat high pressurejwithin the gun barrel issue from the muzzle thereof and expand rwith-treat turbulence within the chamber simultaneously with the escape of vgases through the mouth of the casing.Y k*During the initial part ofl this period'the .pressure wave transmitted rearwardly inside the chamber to` the piston member isincreasing inintensity and finally reaches a maximum.

rlhe maximum pressure on thepistoniisV suciaeoeo positions theyoccupy r than that ofthe bullet'. This arrange# :ment permits the free passage vof the bullet. lf'ilhen-the 'rear end of the bullet has left-the vceeded by a fall vof pressure7 the kgases issuing from "the mouth of 'the' casing with sufficient kinetic'eiiergy tol induce'fa partial vacuum within-the chamber andgun barrel: Mean Y time the ,pistonniember is still *moving rearwards and vmay be made to uncover a-paslsage formed by an enlargement of thefdi.; ameter of the wall ofthe casing. A rfree 'passage inthen'provided'inside the casing `from the rear n end thereof -to its mouth.

Fresh cold air enterfs'the chamberthrough "inlet ports near the frear fend :of the Fcasing, and a powerful draught is induced-bythe kinetic energyof the gases still issuingvfrom the inouthjof thebasiiig.

eo Th pressure and kinetic initte'd to. ,ther lpiston member is employed ypartly in' effectinglthe backward strokefofy vthe actuating; mechanism and partly in energizingl'a return spring29 which'iscaused to "S5 effect the forward' or return strolreLV ofthe actuating 'mechanismlt is' to beparticularlyy observed thatv the velocity of thegases issuing from the'mouth vofthe casing isthat due to the head orpre's'- V9o sure within thatportion, of the chamber 'bethe'muzlzle endfofthe barrelfand themouth of the casing. This pressure'- varies rapidly but its maximum land average values are-much less thanl the corresponding values inthe case of discharge Lgras-es issuing from y vleef a gun'of ordinary construckln the latter the ."mairiinuinvelocity hun ofthe discharge I gases isoffthe order 10.0.00 feet persecorld; withthe'expa'ii- 1500 sion inyfhe chamber provided by the present invention, the maximum' velocity Vof eilux olf/the ldischarge gaseslisi'cionsiderably less.

l'Accordinal*7 the' velocity and momentum ofi the discha *re Afrases therefore also the momentum-fof vrecoil of theffguii, aref all 'areatlv reduced by thepreseut viirvention e .i i q and so the ,rapidly/moving dischargeggases las 'theyimpinpbe upon the. A` shock 'producing obstruction in their path' partially neutralize and materially lessen" theffree recoilof the f larm.

Beferrina'` more inr detail to these draw-y ings, itwill befnoticed that vthe Abarrelfl at its rearor breech end has ascrew-threadsd\V jconnection at 2 `with theforward orbreech *end fof the-'body or receiver'. Surrounding the barrel lf throughout its entire lengthfis a'casing' l which at itsfrear end mounted upon the forward end ofthe-body 3 and is Vsecurelyconnected thereto b yf any suitable The particular means shown com-.

A"prises a s litband 5 littino' around the fori i l) :e

ward end' of the body portion and the'rear end of the casing and co-actingwith flangesv or shoulders 6. progecting-fr'om-'saidends,

f the lower ends of the band being" drawn fto- 'gether'to grip the vrbody and casing and securely connect thefsame togetheR-by means' of a'nut 7 engaging: screwthre'adsfi-30r iio and conical surfaces on the ends of the band: The particular connecting means is 4however immaterial so far as the present invention is concerned.

The casing Ll at its forward portion is reduced in size so that it is of greater diameter than, but concentric with the barrel l, and at its extreme forward end the casing extends some distance beyondthe forward or muzzle end of the gun barrel. In this particular adaptation of the invention this forward portion of the casing constitutes the Vmeans for producing,` the shocks or rapid pressure impulses, and it may be nformed in various ways in order to produce said shocks or impulses. Thus as illustrated in Figure 3, the casing wall at its forward end is turned inwardly, as shown at S, to produce anf inward-ly extending flange forming in effect` an aperturedE forward wall on the casing, which permits the passage of the bullet and* the subsequent retarded escape of the gasesv of discharge. As the gases of discharge flowing freely from the muzzle end of the barrel, following the discharge of the bullet therefrom, come into contact with the apertured forward wall 8 of thev said casing or chamber, the consequent momentary check or retardation of the gases causes the production of the aforesaid shock or backward pressure impulse, and this shock or impulse may be transmitted backwardly to the actuating mechanism by suitable means, as hereinafter referred to. By regulating the size of the aperture in the forward wall 8 of the casing 4, or the distance of said wall from themuzzle end of the gun barrel l, or by suitably proportioning the size of the aper- .ture and the distance between the wall and muzzle end of the gun barrel, a pressure impulse or shock may be produced of such energy as to effect operation of the actuating mechanism in the most satisfactoryv and efii cient manner. The regulation of the size of the aperture and its distance from the end of the barrel permits the energy of the shock or impulse to be determinated with extreme accuracy, whereby the actuating mechanism may be operated with great nicety and smoothness and without imparting unnecessary shocks to the same or otherwise strainingr the parts of the gun.

The forward portion of the casing` 4 terminating inthe apertured end wall 8, may be of cylindrical form, so that the shock or impulse is produced entirely b v the contact of the ra-pidlymoving` gases with the said apertu'red wall, or as shown in Figure 3, said portion may be of slightly conical or taperedl form, the conical or tapering,` wall of said portion cooperating with the apertured end' Wallin producing the shock or impulse.

Alternatively the checkingr or retardiner of the gases of discharge may be effected entirely by' tapering the walll ofthe forward portion of the casingr e, the extreme forward end of the casing being open, and the for- -ward movement of the gases being" checked or retarded due to the passage of said gases through the chamber of gradually reducing cross--sei-tion formed by the tapering wall of the casing. lt will be clear that in this case also, by regulating the size of the aperture at the forward end of the casing or by regulating' the distance of said aperture from the muzzle end of the barrel, or by suitably proportioning` the size of the aperture and the distance of the same from said muzzle end, the energy of the shock or impulse produced may be accurately controlled. ther, the checking or retardinp; of the rases might be effected b v the use of a forward casingl portion of cylindrical form having its extreme forward end open by so determining the internal diameter of said portion that the free expansion of the gases of discharge from the muzzle end of the gun barrel into the chamber formed by said casing portion is momentarily checked as the bullet is discharged.

The forward portion of the casinaT a, in the firearm illustrated, is supported by means of a spider support 9, consisting of a cylindrical sleeve fitting' onto the cylindrical portion 10 at the muzzle-end of the `gun barrel, and provided with radial arms or fins ll enthe interior of the casing- +L at their outer edfres, some or all of said arms or .fins extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the sleeve, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The shocks or impulses produced by the above described regulation of the discharge gases, may be transmitted to the actuatingmechanism of the firearm through the medium of a piston working` in a suitable cyl inder, which piston is connected by a rod or other convenient means to the bolt or other part of the actuating" mechanism. in the particular construction shown in the drawings, the piston i3 is of annular form and is arranged to reciprocate upon a cylindrical portion l2 of the gun barrel, and to (ht within the annular space between this portion and the interior surface of thc adjacent con; centric portion of the fusing el, this piston member at its rcar end being formed with a, radial extension le to which is connected, as by means of screw-threads tpthe forward end of a piston rod or connecting' rod 1G. This rod extends rearwardly in the enlarged portion of the casing; l and intothe body or receiver 3, where it is connected to the cylindrical operating member 1T, slidable within the upper cylindrical4 way or bore of said body. The space in front of the piston is in free communication with the forward portion of the casing 4 in front of the gun barrel, so that a column of air is always maintainedV in front of the piston. (ln the tiring cfa cartridge or powder charge, the shocker Furl'lO

backward pressure impulse produced by the within the upper bore of said body; the hollow cylindrical breech block or bolt 18 slidably arranged in the lower way or bore of the body 3, and the firing pin 19' slidable within said bolt. The operating member ef@ fects both krotational and reciprocating movements of the bolt 18, by means of theV post 20 depending from said operatingmemvber and co-acting with a cam slot 21 in the bolt, said post also effecting movement of the firing pin k19 within the bolt. The return spring 22 surrounds an extension 23 of the operating member and bears at its rear end against the butt-stock 24. y

When the bolt is released, as hereinafter described, the return spring 22 moves the operating member 17 forwardly and carries with it the bolt 18, the post 20 engaging an :inclined part of the cam slot in the bolt and the latter being prevented from rotating by a projection 25 engaging the slot 25a between thevupper and lower bores of the body 3. When the forward end of the bolt engages the breech end of the barrel 1, having vforced a cartridge in advance ofvit into the chambered end of the barrel, the projection 25 is freed from the slot 25a and the bolt is rotated, by the post 20 co-acting with the inclined portion of the cam slot 21, to bring .the lugs 27 on the bolt in front of the lugs y 28 in the body 3 to prevent rearward moveyment of the bolt by the firing of the lcartridge. The operating member after such rotation moves into the position indicated in `Figure 2, and moves the firing pin 19 into -povsition to strike the head of the cartridge and fire the same. The'discharge gases, following the bullet thus discharged, issue from the muzzle end of the gun into the forward port tion of casing 4, and the shock or rapid pressure impulse produced in the manner pre-- viously referred to is transmitted through the intervening column of air to the piston 13 and causes the latter to move rearwardly on the portion 12 of the barrel, the rod 1G during such movement forcing the `operating member 17 rearwardly. Said member on its initial movement unlocks the` bolt 18` by'rotating it in the reverse direction and then carries the bolt rearwardly, against the action of the return spring,energizing the latter in order-.that it may effect a succeeding forward movement of the parts.

The said actuating mechanism, after operation thereof by the aforesaid shock or pressure impulse, may be restrained from further operation until manipulated bythe user or operator of the firearm, in which event said actuating mechanism will lbe manipulable to cause the firing of individual rounds and will be re-energized by the shock or impulse produced at each explosion of a cartridge. Or said actuating i mechanism may be of such a nature, or so manipulable, that itis not restrained after each discharge of a bullet, in which event any desired number of cartridges, or the full number of cartridges in thev magazine may be successively exploded. With this arrangement the shock or pressure impulse produced by the novel utilization of the gases of discharge of the rst cartridge or shell exploded is caused, in themanner described, to energize the actuating mechanism of the iirearm so that it will immediately operate to fire the succeeding cartridge or shell operatively positioned rwith respect to said mechanism, the gases of discharge produced at each explosion of a cartridge or shell thereafter energizing the actuating mechanism to fire thesucceeding cartridge or shell until the desired number has been'fired, or the magazineemptied.

These results may be accomplished by the Vuse of the ktrigger mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and which comprises the guard 25 slidably fitted to the lower portion of the body 3, the trigger 26 being pivoted in a recess in this guard and having a shoulder 26a adapted to co-act with the forward end yof the pivoted sear 27a, the rear end of which is adapted to engage a notch 28av in the rear end of the bolt 18 to restrain the same against the pressureof the return spring.

vWith the trigger and sear in the relative positions indicated in Figure 1, the shoulder 26a of the trigger when the latter is pressed will engage and raise the forward end of the scar, lowering` the rear end thereof from the notch 28.a in the bolt and permitting the' ylatterto be actuated by the spring 22. The

shoulder 26a then snaps past the end of the sear and the latter under the action of its spring resumes its initial position ready to engage and hold thev bolt when the latter is returned by the shock -or pressure impulse produced.. The trigger pin 29 however is eccentrically mounted in the guard 25 and when it is rotated in a clockwise direction by means of handle 30, the trigger is per- Yrio Leccese `forwardly by the spring 22, the` operation being repeated untilthe trigger is released, or themagazine exhausted. f

`There is thus provided by the novel untilizationoi'` the discharge gases, a shock-operated automatic iirearm. the actuating l mechanism otwhich may bc manipulated to fire individual cartridges, or to .tire entirely by shock-operation, after the discharge of the first cartridge, any desired number there- `of within the capacity olf the magazine.

member i7, bolt 18 andpiston 13 may be' moved into the position shown in Figure i ready to tire a cartridge.

The cartridges in thek particular gun illustrated are arranged in a magazine 32a detachably mounted in a recess in the lower part of the body 3 communicating with the lower bore thereol", the cartridge being fed upwardly by a follower 33 and spring 34 into position tov be successively engaged by the forward end of the bolt and 'forced thereby into the chambered end ot the barrel l. On `the return movement of the bolt, the empty shell is withdrawn by the extractors 34a carried by the bolt and at a predetermined instant, the bolt actuates ejector mechanism to eject the shell through the ejection aperture 35 in the body 3. The ej ector mechanism is not shown, and may be of any suitable character.

It will be `understood that the shock or impulse operated. piston 13 in addition to servingto operate the actuating mechanism l ot the firearm, is soar-ranged that during its reciprocating movements it has av pumping eliect on the air within the casing 4, and by providing air inlets at suitable points in said casing, the piston when reciprocated will force the warm air from the casing and draw cooler air thereinto. Further, the piston 13 when at or near therear end of its stroke does not touch the wall of the casing at the enlarged portion el. A clear passage for air is then provided inside the casing from the inlet ports et() to the mouth. The discharge gases issuing from the mouth of the casing induce a powerful draught, thus effecting a circulation ot' air between thecasing and the gun barrel and ellectively cooling the latter. It desired, the rod 16 may loosely fit within the forward portion of the body, so that the piston 13 may circulate cooling air over the actuating mechanism of the firearm and within the body 3, for the purpose of maintaining said parts and body, in addition to the barrel, in cool condition during operation of the firearm.

Or the gases oit discharge may be otheri wise utilized to produce said circulation of cooling air.

lt will be readily understood that the aforesaid retardation or checking of the movement or expansion oit the discharge gases produces shocis or pr ure impulses which serve to reduce or neutralize the recoil oil' the vfirearm due to the eiplosion of the cartrid so thatthe firearm may bc operated more easily and with greater accuracy.` l

its previously indicated. the essential 'feature ot the invention is the method oi automatically or semiautomaticallyY operating a iirearin by means ot shocks or pressure impulses caused produced b v a. novel utilization of the gees oli' discharge. The invention is not restricted to any particular inanner oi" producing these shocls or impulses, although to -ble the invention to be clearly iiiulcr;-f..,d various ways in which the same may be produced have been described. Furthermore. it is particularly desired to point out `that the invention is not restricted to the use oie the improved method oit operation `with firearms or any particular construction or size or` calibre, as, although the invention may be particularly applicable to rii'les or shoulder arms, and 'tor convenience has been illustrated as applied to such arms. it is also applicable as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, to firearms of othertypes or construction. and o't smaller and larger size or calibre. Further. theinvcntion also eX- tends to the methods ot air cooling the parts or a firearm. and reducing the recoil of a lirearunlby the use oi shoclrs `or pressure impulses as previously referred to.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature ot my said invention and in ivhat'manner the same is to be performed.. l declare that what I claim is i. rthe method ot automatically operating a iirearm. which .consists in acting upon the discharge gases to produce a shock or very rapid pressure impulse` and utilizing said shock or impulse to cause a subsequent operation ot the firearm.

2. `The method or automatically operating a firearm, which consists in acting upon the discharge gases to produce a shock or very rapid pressure impulse, impressing said shock or impulse upon a column of air, and utilizing said impressed shock or impulse to cause a subsequent operation of the lirearm.

The method of automatically operating a. firearm. which consists in acting upon the discharge gases to produce a shock or very rapid pressure impulse. storing up the energT of said shock or impulse, and subsequently releasing said stored energy to cause operation of the yfirearm.

lio

4f. rllhe method of automatically operating a firearm, Which consists in momentarily checking` the forward movement of Vthe discharge gases to produce a shock. or Very rapid pressure impulse, and utilizing .said

shock or impulse to cause a subsequent oper-Y ation of the iirearm.

5. The method of automatically operating a v.iirearnn which consists in momentarily checking` the expansion of the' discharge gases issuing` :trom the muzzle end ofthe `Darrel to produce a shock or Veryrapid pressure impulse7 and utilizing said shock or impulse to cause a subsequent operationvol theii'rearin.` i

6. The method of automatically operating a firearm7 ivhicli consists in producing a succession of shocks or Very rapid pressure discharge gases to produce a shock or very impulses by acting upon successive discharges of gas from the barrel oia the arm, and utilizing; said succession .of shocks or impulses to cause repeated voperation of the firearm.

7. The method of' operating` an automatic rearni7 which consists in acting upon the rapid pressure impulse, and utilizing said shock or impulse to cause a ycirculation O air for cooling said arm. Y

8. `The method of operating` an automatic iirearm, which consists in imparting to .the stream of dischargegases issuingfrom the 'muzzle end of 'the gun barrel a momentary energyo said shock or Wawtol cause a Subsequent operation of the firearm.

10. The method of automaticallyoperat-` ing a firearm, which consistspin'utiliz'ing the 1*discharge .gases to impose a shock: or

compression Wave upon ya relatively station-,

ary massotelasticl iiuid Within achamber in communication ,with the atmosphere; and utilizing lsaid shock; to cause a subsequent operation of the firearm.; Y i

vlli, The method of automatically operate` ,ing a iirearim, which consists in f 'expanding tlie` discharge' gases Within a chamber :in communication with the vatmosphere' to pro- *duce a shock of compression andrarefaction, and utilizingfsa'id sho'olrto cause a' subsequent operation of the iirearm.Y Y

lQwThe method of automatically operaia-vv i ing a tirei'irm,I which vconsists in utilizingthe discharge. gases to produce av shock of compression and rarefactionon a mass of air Wit-hina chamber in communication with the ai'mospherd'` and utilizing said .shockptoi create a draught ofcoolingfair over. and

around the barrel of the firearm.

i3. The method ol operating a firearm,- Which consists Ain acting uponl the 'stream or' dischargeV gases issuing fromfthe muzi' zle end: of 'the 'gun barrel@uniformly-.about vthe axis. of the gas streamr to moii'ientarily check or conne said `gases .Without-caus ing. lineralv deflection :thereof to. produce Aa shoclr .or very rapid`pressure"impulse for' the purposes specified. f 1 .i y #14. rThe method oit-"operating a firearm. which. consists in actingupon ytheustreain oiC discharge gases 'issuing from the muzzle end of the gun barreluniformlyabout'thel axis of rsaid Astream to .produce a shock or veryfrapid pressure impulse Vandl imparting said shockfo-r'impulseto asbody offelastic iuid' disposed uniformlyr about-:the axis of the gas streainyfor'the purposes 'specified` .ln testimony ,whereof I',aixmysignature.l

isiiaciifi'.l iLiiWi-s.y 

